Things to do/not do for that first car

On the list of life-thrills, your first car must be in the top 10. Perhaps the top three in my day when safety checks were very optional.

My day also meant that the acquisition occurred about two hours after the official time of your sixteenth birthday with whatever money you could scrape together at the part-time job.

Today’s first-time vehicle owner isn’t as teen-laden as you might think, occurring at an age that affords such things as approved credit.

No matter what the date on your driver’s license says, here’s a few tips to help steer you into a car that makes sense for your needs and your pocketbook.

Before you start soiling your sneakers with tire kicks, start with soiling a piece of paper with your needs and wants for personal transportation.

How would you be using your yet-to-be-named vehicle? What things would you be doing with your vehicle that you can’t do now, using public or rental types of transportation? We’re not trying to figure out the car yet; we’re trying to figure out if your life even warrants a vehicle.

In many respects, it’s all about location. If you’re living in a dense urban area, with minimal commuting distance, and minimal parking opportunities, ask yourself how often you would be driving it. Cars need exercise, meaning that they don’t like to sit for extended periods.

There are few opportunities in this life that will get more people’s attention than getting a used car for free. How could you possibly say no? Let's start with what it is, and the overall condition.

If your rocker panels are something you can put your foot through, the car is simply no longer able to perform properly in a crash event, and should be avoided. Cars that have been sitting for a long time, like Grandma’s ’79 Dodge St. Regis, can be costly to refresh, due to these factors; few mechanics remember how to fix them, and parts stocks have become more specialty item than mainstream.

That old Dodge is more hobby car than daily driver, especially when you start shopping for non-existent tire sizes. A free car is never free, so ensure that you have available funds for needed repairs and maintenance.

As shiny as the car of your dreams may look on Dealership Row, you should pay close attention to how it will look completely destroyed. One of your first car-shopping stops should be the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (iihs.org).

The IIHS is the home of the Top Safety Pick protocol for crash performance, and is an excellent resource for learning about new crash avoidance technologies, such as forward collision mitigation systems.

Pay close attention to crash tests regarding cars in the city car class. As cute as they are, they all have one thing in common — larger vehicles will inflict a world of hurt. There’s also plenty of crash test results for used cars.

In my sessions with driver’s ed students, I will always ask what their budget is for their first car. The next question I ask them addresses their budget for maintenance, which is usually a flat zero.

Whether it’s $3,000 or $13,000, a used car is going to need something, usually a lot sooner with the lesser purchase amounts. A decent set of tires, as in an upgraded speed rating, and a life span better than 50,000 km, will average between $600 to $1,000, depending on the vehicle.

Don’t forget about winter tires, so you might as well double that amount. Oil changes, coolant flushes, and accessory belts all add up. About the only thing that $19.95 will buy you these days on your car for maintenance is a deluxe wash at The Buggy Bath.

I advise a service cushion budget of $3,000, for a used vehicle purchase that includes no warranty coverage. The best way to ensure that the vehicle you are considering is worth the money, no matter what the amount, is to pay for an inspection by an independent mechanic.

The payments on new vehicles, especially the least expensive, have grown so enticing that one has to wonder if any used car is worth the trouble. This is the thought process behind the new Nissan Micra, and the recent Mitsubishi Mirage price reduction, with MSRPs under 10 grand. Zero per cent financing, and bi-weekly payments that wouldn’t buy you and your squeeze a proper steak are hard to ignore.

Have you noticed how long you’ll be paying for the vehicle? Most bi-weekly purchase schemes are approaching 96 months. That’s also known as eight long years. Not many warranties will cover you for eight years, unless they’re very extended. Not many vehicles will fit your changing needs for eight years either. Heck, your choice of spouse may not even last that long.

Leasing is a great way to get into a new vehicle, if your plan is to have a car payment for the rest of your motoring days. The best candidates for leasing are those who use their vehicle for some type of business purpose, which can be beneficial for tax deduction purposes. Consult an accountant, who can give you the best guidance for your unique financial needs

Every vehicle needs to have a certain level of basic equipment. The good news is that the majority of new vehicles are coming to market with an impressive amount of stuff, such as power windows, Bluetooth for your phone, even heated seats on some models.

Before you start checking off every shiny thing on the menu, it’s a good idea to do some research. You can sift through a few dozen reviews, though its a good idea to target First Drive musings.

These are the events where journalists learn about the available trim levels, and the percentage of sales that the manufacturer is projecting.

Mid-grade equipment levels are usually the larger percentage of sales, which includes such must-haves as air conditioning, upgraded interiors, and enhanced exterior treatments.

The equipment level that people want on a new car is the same as a used car. Fully-equipped models may be coveted, though most manufacturer projections for their sales are low, between five to 10 per cent.

Consider how you’ll be wanting to use your vehicle, for work and play. If you’re a fitness buff, investigate the availability of rack systems specifically designed for your gear, and your vehicle. Families should size up the ability to mount/dismount child seats.

Think about the things that you would need during your day, and bring them along to see how they fit. A bad cupholder may seem like a little annoyance, though it gets even more annoying, when you still have 95 months left to actually own it.

Your travels may take you off the beaten path, which could make the requirement of an all-wheel/four-wheel drive system a necessity.

If you’re looking at a used AWD/4WD vehicle, insist on proof of maintenance. When those spines break, it’s never cheap.

One of the best ways to find the vehicle that works for you is a little parking lot stalking (the friendly, nonthreatening, non-creepy kind.)

If you see a person emerging from a new/used vehicle that you’re considering, make a friendly introduction, and ask them about their ownership experience.

It can be as simple as a Like or a Love, or a detailed list of grievances. Vehicles do experience issues, even when they’re brand new.

A good resource for assessing a vehicle’s overall reliability is a search for recalls, and technical bulletins. Transport Canada notices/bulletins can be accessed at tc.gc.ca (U.S. reports at nhtsa.gov).

Many vehicles have dedicated owner forums online. The language can get a little colourful, but there are good nuggets of information in that porridge.

There’s no better person to ask about a vehicle than the person who owns one, especially someone who has had a few years behind the wheel of it.